Honoring the real Memorial Day event

Monday was the day when most of us celebrated Memorial Day; however, the American Legion Post 3 in Sault Ste. Marie will be conducting a parade and services on Friday evening.

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Sault Ste. Marie Evening News - Sault Ste. Marie, MI

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Posted May. 29, 2014 at 8:01 AM

Posted May. 29, 2014 at 8:01 AM

Monday was the day when most of us celebrated Memorial Day; however, the American Legion Post 3 in Sault Ste. Marie will be conducting a parade and services on Friday evening.

When I first heard this, I wondered why the event was being held then when most everyone celebrates the holiday on the last Monday in May, but I quickly found out the difference.

When everyone else may think it is strange, the Sault actually is doing it right. Before I explain why, you will need to have the background.

Memorial Day actually started out as an event to honor Union soliders that died in the Civil War. After World War I, the event was changed to include all Americans who died in any war or military action.

For Michigan, it played a major part in the Civil War as nearly a quarter of the state’s men served, and units fought in most major battles of the Civil War including Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Appomattox and the second battle of Bull Run.

Now the background as to why the Sault celebrates its on Friday.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, used to be held on May 30 each year — no matter what day of the week it was. However, lawmakers were the ones that changed Memorial Day to be celebrated on the last Monday of May with the Uniform Holidays Bill that was passed in 1968 to create three-day weekends.

As you can see, the Sault actually is keeping to the traditional holiday and not the one made up to give three-day weekends.

With that in mind, all of us should take the time out to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. This includes attending the event being held by the American Legion.

There will be a parade taking place Friday with the lineup at 6:30 p.m. at Pingatore Cleaners. The actual parade will start at 7 p.m. and leave the cleaners and travel north on Ashmun Street and end at the Veteran’s Memorial at the Chippewa County Courthouse yard on Bingham Avenue.

After the parade, there will be a service conducted at the memorial.

Far too often we tend to trivialize these holidays and people look at this one in particular as the first day of summer. Memorial Day is much more than that.

If it were not for those who have gone before us and our brave men and women today in the Armed Services, we may not have had or continue to have the freedom to celebrate these holidays. We have been a country that has forgotten the true meaning of these days.

If you would take a poll, most would tell you Memorial Day is the start of summer, a day off from work, or just another day. However, those who died fighting, and their families, know it is much more than that. Because of this, we salute the current servicemen and women and those who have served.

Page 2 of 2 - On Friday, we should take the time to honor those who died fighting for our freedom and making us proud to live in the greatest country in the world.

Richard Crofton is the Northern Group Editor for both The Sault Evening News and the Cheboygan Daily Tribune.